Taejon Beads

To not wear taejon in Aelgar is like going outside without clothes. Taejon strands are draped over the face, head, and hair, in decorative and fashionable patterns. They are hung outside store windows, over trading stands, on caravans and ships and everything of importance. But even their beauty doesn’t hint at their importance. Each taejon strand tells the story of the person who wears it. Green tells of the government and authority, red of the army, blue of age and knowledge, pink of family and children, white of death and mourning, gold of wealth and power, and so on. Each bead has a meaning and each number of beads has a meaning. Together, the patterns tell a person’s story, their prestige and their aspirations. Taejon defines a person in Aelgar proper. To not wear taejon in a conquered territory is to outright defy the Empress.